During Totality.
The attention of all visual observers was at once caught by the equatorial streamers. Father Woodman’s comparison of the appearance of a structure of mother of pearl was generally recognized as good, but different observers differed on the color estimate. A yellowish green tinge was noted by the artist of the party, Mr. Child, while to others the light was straw colored or golden.
The general coronal form to the naked eye was nearly that of the small [annexed photograph], which, though taken by one of the smaller objectives, gives a good view of the relative intensities. The same extensions of the equatorial corona could be followed by the naked eye from 3 to 3½ solar diameters.
The visual telescopic observations of the writer gave little indication of the finely divided structure of the inner corona which he had noticed at Pike’s Peak. Structure, to be sure, was evident, but not in such minute subdivision as had then been seen, and though one remarkable prominence as well as several smaller ones was visible, the coronal streamers did not give to the writer the impression of being connected with these prominences, though the relationship of some of them to the solar poles was abundantly manifest.
After Totality. Results.
Comparing notes after totality, all observers reported a successful carrying out of the programme. The greatest interest centers in the direct coronal negatives taken with the 135-foot telescope. Mr. Smillie exposed six 30 × 30 plates during totality, with times ranging from one half a second to sixteen seconds, and three others were exposed by him immediately after the third contact.
At this writing only a part of the negatives taken have been developed. Their general quality may be inferred from the examples here given, after due allowance for the great loss suffered by translation onto paper even with the best care.
Fig. 1. General View of the Corona. Taken with 6 inch Lens of 7½ feet Focus. 82 Seconds Exposure.
[Fig. 1] is a view taken with one of the smaller objectives (6 inches), given here to afford the reader an idea of the general disposition of the coronal light. The upper part is the vertex in the inverted field.
Fig. 2. Prominences on Southwest Limb of Sun. Taken with 12 inch Lens of 135 feet Focus. 8 Seconds Exposure.
[Fig. 2] is a portion of one of the great 15-inch circular images obtained with the 135-foot focus telescope. It was obtained in the great disc in the last exposure during totality of 8 seconds, showing one of the principal prominences then on the sun’s disc, with the disposition of the lower filaments near it.
Fig. 3. North Polar Coronal Streamers. Taken with 15 inch Lens of 135 feet Focus. Exposure 16 Seconds.
[Fig. 3] is a portion of one of the same set of plates, but taken with a 16-second exposure. The part near the sun has, of course, been intentionally over-exposed, in order to better exhibit the remarkable polar streamers, extending here to a distance of about six minutes from the sun, but seen still further in Mr. Child’s telescopic drawing (not given.)
Fig. 4. Dark Room and Tubes of 135 foot and 38 foot Telescopes. 5 inch Equatorial in Foreground, Prof. Langley Observing.
[Fig. 4] is a view of a small part of the great apparatus on the field, including the terminus of the horizontal tube with its canvas covering, which has been described as like an extended ‘A’ tent. The photographic room is seen at the end of the tube, and beyond that the tube containing the lens loaned by Professor Young pointing directly skyward.
That it will be impracticable to give here all of the disc of the moon in the large photographs, will be evident when it is considered that the lunar circumference on each plate is about 4 feet; but it will be inferred from the examples that the prominences and polar streamers as well as their features, appear in imposing magnitude and detail.
Many of what it is hoped will be the most interesting photographs still await development, but Mr. Smillie’s thorough preparation is promising adequate results.